Any recommendations for safest blind buy for my first Criterion flick? Sadly, I think the only two I've seen before are the Darjeeling Limited and Benjamin Button. I wanna pick up a Criterion release for my upcoming birthday. I've been looking into the BBS set. What do you guys think?

If you're okay with subtitles you can't go wrong with Seven Samurai or Revanche.

If you'd rather avoid subtitles Paths of Glory is a good choice.

In many ways all three are pretty familiar dramas (beginning, middle, end, story arcs, character arcs, etc) told in pretty standard ways (the cameras are usually where you expect cameras to be doing things you usually expect cameras to do) but they're a lot more. They're all brilliantly written and flawlessly executed and all three transfers are absolutely outstanding (though in different ways given the varying sources).

And if you've got the cash The Third Man is out of print but it's as safe (and as excellent) as Criterions get.

Somewhat Criterion related post....

If you missed out on the Hitchcock Criterion OOP DVD's back then, the $120 Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection (Lifeboat / Spellbound / Notorious / The Paradine Case / Sabotage / Young and Innocent / Rebecca / The Lodger) DVD box set is on sale today for $19.99 here

I don't mean to burst kndy's bubble, but this set is supposed to have some SERIOUS disc playback issues:

http://www.amazon.com/Hitchcock-Premiere-Collection-Spellbound-Notorious/dp/B001D8W7EA

Great deal - I'm just a little hesitant because apparently that set has has a real spotty history as far as QC issues...multiple bad discs per set, etc.

Edit - Yeah...what McCrutchy already said, haha

First OT of the day...sorry Beta...

I was able to get "The Bridge on the River Kwai" from B & N for about $15 (tax included), but haven't opened it yet.

The reviews were pretty good, but it is said that PQ varies.

Any feedback from you guys? Thanks! :)

I love my Bridge on the River Kwai Blu-ray. I thought the PQ was damn good, if I say so myself. You'll enjoy it, trust me.

Wages of Fear

Anybody know when the Criterion coupon will be up? I think i have to get Chungking Express from them since it's gone other places. Axel Music is out of stock as well.

I've decided that I might skip on getting either Play Time and/or Close-up, and just receive my Army of Shadows next week, then Shock Corridor the week after that. I'd like to get Play Time and Close-up, but I'm not as enthused about getting them like I am with the Melville and Fuller films. Who knows, though? Criterion can be very manipulative.

BBS is great, but it is limited to a specific period. If you're ok with that, go for it!

However, for a more varied look at what the CC offers, you may try movies like Charade, Paths of Glory, Seven Samurai, Wages of Fear, Revanche, Bigger Than Life, The Third Man (although OOP), Close-Up, Everlasting Moments, and for one of the newer IFC dramas, I thoroughly enjoyed both Secret of the Grain and A Christmas Tale.

I mean, you really can't go wrong with any title. All depends on what you're into.

Doesn't Shock Corridor and Naked Kiss come out next week, and Army the week after?

1/11-Fuller x2
1/18-Shadows and RC on Mars
1/25-Broadcast News

EDIT: NEVERMIND...I AM WRONG!!!

Army of Shadows is in fact next week, and Shock Corridor comes out on the 18th. At least according to this site ;)

That is a great set, but my wife was going to buy that for me years ago upon release and saw the issues on Amazon's site. On my b-day, she told me why she didn't get it and I was glad.

I do believe, however, that some of the issues were fixed as some reviewers indicated receiving copies that were fine, but I think there's no way to tell if what we're buying is going to be full of defective discs or not.

Thanks for the rec. though...that is an insane price!!

Yes, you are correct! Sorry...I had 'em mixed up.

Chungking must be going OOP. Doesn't make sense that copies dry up at every online retailer at once.

When films go OOP often the copies are sent back to the distributor. . .

I think it's great..... very solid release, and one I'm glad to own.

Thanks greek! :)

I have no doubt that it was a good purchase...will probably crack it open this coming weekend. Got a Bergman coming today on NetFlix.

No problem. Celebrating the future release of Wild Strawberries?

Since I got up early today, and being on vacation from college with nothing better to do, I think I'm gonna pop in Revanche for the millionth time.

Restored M (1931) coming March 2011 in Germany
 

Check out the newly restored, 80th Anniversary Edition of Fritz Lang's M that Germany will get in March, supposedly Region ABC with English subs for the film and the extensive extras! I will gladly triple-dip if this is truly what they get! :eek:

Credit for this post goes to djvaso.

http://forum.blu-ray.com/germany/161...n-moerder.html

http://forum.blu-ray.com/images/icons/DE.gif M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder Blu-ray